-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced the resignations Tuesday of three high-level government officials , most notably Communications and Transport Secretary Luis Tellez Kuenzler .

The government of Mexican President Felipe Calderon , seen here in January , is facing elections in July .

Abraham Gonzalez , a key official for the powerful ministry that oversees Mexico 's government , also resigned . So did Sergio Vela Martinez , president of the National Council for Culture and the Arts .

No official reasons were given for any of the resignations , which analysts said did not appear to be related . But at least two of the resignations did not come as a surprise .

Tellez , who stepped down from a Cabinet-level post , had been involved for weeks in a controversy over taped comments revealed last month by CNN journalist Carmen Aristegui .

In the taped conversation , Tellez said former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari had stolen government money . Salinas has not been formally accused of any crime .

Tellez received an anonymous threat in late February from an apparent political enemy telling him to resign or more damaging audiotapes would be released to the media . He refused and turned the matter over to authorities .

Ana Maria Salazar Slack , a political analyst who is host of a daily radio show in Mexico City , called it `` an almost soap opera-ish scandal '' that left Calderon little choice but to force Tellez to resign .

`` Although Calderon wanted to keep him in office , it made it very difficult to keep him there , '' she said .

Calderon moved Tellez to a post as a presidential aide dealing with economic matters .

Other observers also were not surprised by the move .

`` That was waiting to happen , '' said Andrew Selee , director of the Mexico Institute at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center . `` But evidently the president values his counsel and has kept him in a high-profile position in the presidency from which he 'll continue to have influence . ''

Robert Pastor , the Latin America national security adviser for President Jimmy Carter in the 1970s , praised Tellez but said political considerations prevailed .

`` He 's a very competent fellow , '' Pastor said . `` One of the most competent people I 've known in Mexico . But this tape in particular was very embarrassing . ''

In a televised news conference after Calderon announced the changes , Tellez expressed his `` gratitude for this opportunity that few Mexicans obtain . ''

Replacing Tellez will be Juan Molinar Horcasitas , the head of the Mexican Institute for Social Security .

Molinar belongs to the same party as Calderon , the National Action Party -LSB- PAN -RSB- , while Tellez belongs to the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party -LSB- PRI -RSB- . That played a role , Slack said .

`` The president is sending a signal to his party that he 's going to support people from his own party , '' Slack said . `` Beyond the political scandals of the tapes , there 's a decision for the president to appoint people very close to the party . ''

Gonzalez 's departure was not a surprise either , since he is running for a congressional seat in July and Mexican law requires him to resign .

Analysts spoke highly of Gonzalez 's replacement , Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez . He had been the top person in the foreign ministry for Latin and North America .

`` Gutierrez moving in is outstanding , '' the Mexico Institute 's Selee said , calling him `` one of the smartest people ... I 've met '' and `` an impressive guy . ''

Consuelo Saizar Guerrero takes over as head of the National Council for Culture and the Arts , replacing Vela , whose reasons for resigning were not disclosed . Saizar previously served as head of the Economic Culture Fund , the government 's book-publishing enterprise .

The arts and culture post will play a significant role in 2010 , when Mexico celebrates 100 years of its social revolution and 200 years of its declaration of independence , radio analyst Slack said .

As for the timing of resignations from three key posts , Slack linked it to Mexico 's election calendar .

`` In order to understand these changes , '' she said , `` you have to understand there are midterm elections in July . So if there are going to be any changes , they have to take place right now . ''

Meanwhile , Peter Hakim , president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue , said the changes do not portend a political shift .

`` This does n't sound like any major direction in change for Calderon , '' Hakim said .

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Analyst says timing of resignations linked to Mexican midterm elections in July

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Communications and transport secretary resigns amid controversy over comments

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Key official for ministry that oversees Mexico 's government leaves